Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-01-28
THE COMMERCE. BILL.
The Measure as 1t Now Stands
Corrected by Both Houses.

NJ
State commerce bin as agreed upoh
by both Houses of Congress, provides
that all charges made for any service
rendered in the transportation Of pas
sengers or property by common car
riers shall DC reasonable and just, ana |
every unjust or unreasonable charge
for such service is prohibited and de-
clared unlawful.
Section 9 makes 1t unlawful for
any common carrier TO charge or re-
ceive directly or indirectly from any
person or persons Il greater or less
compensation for any service render
ed in the transportation of passengers
or property than it charges or receiV-
es from any other person or persons
for doing like and contemporancous
service in the transportation OF IKE
kind of traffic under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions
Section 3 makes it unlawful for
anv common carrier to make or give
any undue or any unreasonable pref
erence or advantage to any particular
person, company, firm, corporation or
locality, or any particular description
of traffic.
Section A and 5 (the long and short
haul and pooling sections) are as ioi-
lows:
Sec. 4. That it shall be unlawful
for any common carrier, subject 10
the provisions of this act, to charge
or receive any greater compensation
in the aggregate for the transporta-.
ton of passengers, or of like KIND OF
property, under substantially similar
circumstances and conditions for
shorter than for q longer distance on
the Same line in the same direction,
the shorter being included in The
longer distance but this shall not be
construed as authorizing any common
carrier within the terms ofthis act TO
charge and receive as great compen-
sation for shorter as for a longer
distance; provided, however, that up
on application to the Commission APP
pointed under the provisions of this
act, such common carrier may, In
special cases. after investigation by
the Commission, be authorized 10
charge less for longer than for shorter
distances for transportation ofpassen-
gers and property aud the Commis-
sion NAV. from time to time, pre-
scribe The extent 10 which such desig-
mated common carrier may be reliev-
ed from the operations of this section
of this act
Sec. 8. That it shall be unlawful
| for any common carrier subject TO
this bill to enter into any contract
| agreement or combination with other
common carrier or carriers for pool
ing of freights of different or com
peting railroads, or 10 divide between
them the aggregate or net proceeds OF
the earnings of such railroads OF any
portion thereof and in any case OF all
agreement for the pooling of freights
as aforesaid, each day of its contlnu-
ance shall be deemed a seperate Of
| Tense.
Section G requires that after ninety
DAYS from the passage of the act every
common carrier subject 10 its provls-
| ions shall have printed, aud keep for
public inspection, schedules showing
rates, fares and charges, and in adj
dition TO requiring railroads to give
publicity at all of the depots on their
several lines, it gives authority to the
commission where it is proper and
necessary TO require them to give
publicity of their ratesto other places
beyond The lines of their several rail
roads. 1t also provides that the rates
fares and charges shall not be raised
except after ten days of public notice
but that they may be reduced with
out previous public notice. The no
tice, however, shall be simultaneou'
with the reduction itself.
Section 7 makes it unlawful fol
any common carrier 20 enter Into
any combination or agreement Ia
prevent the carriage of freights from
being continuous from the place o
shipment to the place of destination
Section s declares that any common
carrier violating the provisions OF tn
: act shall be liable to the person III
e iured thereby for the full amount o
= damages sustained in consequence o
f any such violation, together with
: reasonable counsel or attoanoy's fee
IS The ninth section provides tina
persons claiming to have been dam
e aged by the action of common carrie
: NAV proceed for recovery OF thel
A damages either in the courts OF I'll
United States or before the commits
E. sion, but not before both tribunals.
n Section 10 makes it a penal otienc
G to violate any of the provisions of til
# act, and puts the maximum. fine whic
r may be imposed at the sum of 500
|. The seventeen following PROVE
@ for n commission to consist of fiy
Q persons appointed by the Presidel
l. by and with the consent of the Senat
= whose term of Office shall be for 81
}. wears, except for the first appoin
v ments, which are TO be for two, Tire
If four five and six years. Their pril
Of cipal office shall be in Washingto
Y, but they may hold sessions at 9TH
re places than Washington, and sing
70 member of the commission may tai
es testimony anywhere, as may
" directed by the commission.
Is The Commissioners have salari
to of 1880 each. The commission h
t. the power to appoint a secretar
Te with an annual salary of $500, al
re has authority to employ and fix &
in compensation of such other employe
p a. it may find necessary TO the prop
lie performance of its duties, subject
et The approval of the Secretary of I
d. Interior. 1t Is also provided th
o. nothing contained in the act sht
ID, abridge the remedies now existil
is at common law, or by statute,
ar Sections 90 appropriates $1,000
nd for the purposes of the act for the I
he cal year ending June 30, 1883.
res Section "a provides that the pl
lal visions of the sections relating to t
ny appointment and organization Of I
commission shall take effect immet
atety, aud that the remaining prov
~ ions of the act shall take effect six
,io days after its passage.